浅谈接觉 – Little Koala Sleep Time

This article is dedicated to babies who have learned to fall asleep on their own but still struggle with connecting sleep cycles.

Connecting sleep cycles is even more challenging than soothing a baby to sleep. The level of comfort required to connect sleep cycles is higher than the level needed to soothe a baby to sleep.

If you pat your baby to sleep, you might need to upgrade to holding or nursing when trying to connect sleep cycles. If you continue patting, it might take over 30 minutes until the baby enters deep sleep and becomes limp, allowing you to remove your hand. However, the results are often not ideal. As soon as you let go, the baby might start moving again.

If you hold your baby to sleep, you might need to pick them up again and walk around continuously, or even hold them for the entire nap.

If you nurse your baby to sleep, well... you can probably picture the scenario.

The most frustrating part of connecting sleep cycles is that after spending 30-45 minutes helping the baby connect their sleep, they might only sleep for another 10 minutes before waking up again. You then have to help them connect their sleep again. Sometimes, during a 2-hour nap, you might have to do this two or three times. This process can be exhausting for moms because you can't do anything else; you can only lie next to the baby waiting to help them connect their sleep. Some moms even have to stand and pat the entire time, maintaining a consistent rhythm, or the baby will wake up. If you're using the "shushing" method, after half an hour, you might end up with a dry mouth and a sore throat.

So, how can you effectively help your baby connect their sleep cycles?

The solution lies in the problem itself: let the baby connect their sleep on their own!

let the baby connect their sleep on their own!

Only by letting the baby connect their sleep on their own can they possibly sleep longer. Over time, the baby will reduce the time they need to connect sleep cycles from 30 minutes to 20 minutes, then from 20 minutes to 10 minutes. Eventually, during the transition between sleep cycles, the baby might only need to turn over or adjust their head position to fall back asleep.

Here, we introduce the concept of "crib time" (one-hour rule):

From the moment the baby falls asleep to the moment they are picked up from the crib, there should be at least 1 hour.

For example, if the baby sleeps for 30 minutes, don't immediately go in and pick them up. Give them another 30 minutes to practice connecting their sleep (30' + 30' = 1 hour).

（30‘+30‘=1hour）

If the baby sleeps for 40 minutes, give them 20 minutes (40' + 20' = 1 hour).

If the baby's sleep duration is less than 30 minutes, start the timer from the moment they are placed in the crib.

For example: put down the baby at 9:00 am, nap1: [9:15-9:35], then we will pick up the baby at 10:00 am.

"Crib time" allows the baby to complete their natural sleep cycles. A nap should consist of at least two sleep cycles to be fully restorative.

If the baby sleeps for more than an hour, still give them 5-10 minutes to wake up naturally. This habit of playing in the crib for a short while after waking up is beneficial for practicing self-soothing.

During the waiting period:

If the baby makes intermittent "ah... ah..." sounds and occasionally opens and closes their eyes, it indicates they will fall asleep soon. You can extend the waiting time in such cases.

If the baby wakes up crying loudly, don't immediately pick them up. Wait until the crying stops or diminishes, and then decide whether to wait for the full "crib time" or pick them up. If the baby wakes up crying, it's often because they haven't slept enough, or they've been awake for too long before the nap. If you rush in and pick up the baby immediately, it won't help them connect their sleep and might even scare them, making them cry even longer.

For babies just starting to practice connecting sleep cycles, you can gradually increase the waiting time, starting from 5 minutes, then 10 minutes, 20 minutes, and so on, until they can wait for the full "crib time."

Requirements for the sleep environment:

Blackout curtains! (At least 90% blackout, complete darkness is best.)
White noise (not lullabies)
Suitable temperature, slightly cool, around 18-20 °C; humidity: 50%
No one else in the room, only the baby (a baby monitor is needed)
Use a crib sheet, and there should be no other soft items in the crib (like pillows, blankets, or plush toys)
A comfort cloth can be used (provided the baby can easily remove it from their face)
Swaddling (recommended for babies under four months. If the baby can break free from the swaddle, consider using a sleep sack.)
If the baby has mastered sleeping on their stomach, they can be placed in this position for naps, which can help with connecting sleep cycles.

Some moms hide somewhere the baby can't see and rush over to pat the baby back to sleep when they're about to wake up. While this method might have a high success rate, it's not a long-term solution. Consider using the above method to let the baby practice connecting their sleep on their own.

Connecting sleep cycles is a challenging skill to master. A baby might learn to fall asleep on their own in a day, but connecting sleep cycles can take one to two weeks of practice.

However, have faith in your baby. They can do it. As long as you maintain consistency, even if the waiting time increases little by little, it's still progress. Once the baby manages to connect their sleep once, it's like opening the door to a new world!